Clothes washing machine drive with power clutches



G. P. CASTNER ET AL: 2,828,633

7 Sheets-Sheet 1 CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE DRIVE WITH POWER CLUTCHES M 0 w. i 5 f M, m W w. .6 M 2 3 a h as R 1 54 F .'M ll I 5 3 m p a L Q I 3 2 5 M up M )6 i J a 3 Q April 1, 1958 Filed Jan. 17, 1955 FIE. .l

INVENTOR. 650x65 I? C'Asruz-w BY James R. Fo'srER 44 2.1 Jrrokmsrs l l l f I l r CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE DRIVE WITH POWER CLUTCHES Filed Jan. 1'7, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 6 E0RG Z (awn/ex BY JZMES 1?. Fosrzk wvu h A ril 1, 1958 G. P. CASTNER ET AL CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE DRIVE WITH POWER CLUTCHES Filed Jan. 17, 1955 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

April 1, 1958 G. P. CASTNER ET AL 2,828,633

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE DRIVE WITH POWER CLUTCHES INVENTOR. 1? 65mm: 1? 6345mm? BY JZMES A. FOSTER Guam 7 Arron/lays April 1, 1958 2,828,633

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE DRIVE WITH POWER CLUTCHES G. P. CASTNER ET AL 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 17, 1955 INVENTOR. 6oxs R 'nsrmz-w .BY Jimzs R Fosnw 4770 RNE ys April 1958 G. P. CASTNER ET AL 2,828,633

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE DRIVE WITH POWER CLUTCHES Filed Jan. 17, 1955' 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 q-ioec-t- P. Gav/me By JAMES 21-35722.

B um/ M FIG. .21

United States Patent CLOTHES WASHING MACHHWE DRIVE WITH POWER CLUTCHES George P. Castner and James R. Foster, Webster City,

Iowa, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Gamble- Skogmo, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application January 17, 1955, Serial No. 482,174 '7 20 Claims. (CI. 74-70) This invention relates generally to improvements in clothes washing machines of the type utilizing an oscillating agitator for washing the clothes in a tub and means for spinning the tub to centrifugally extract the cleansing fluid. More specifically the present invention relates to improvements in the drive and clutch mechanism for the agitator and tub.

The ordinary machine of this kind consists of an outer stationary casing and an inner assembly mounted for re stricted gyratory motion, the latter assembly including a spin tub for containing the clothes and washing liquid, the agitator in the tub, a suitable frame and the drive mechanism for spinning the tub and oscillating the agitator. Included in said drive mechanism is the motor and a transmission for converting rotary motion to oscillating motion. Also there must be included in said drive mechanism suitable power transmitting connections between the motor and tub and between the motor and transmission as well as from the latter to the agitator, along with means for selectively or cyclically disabling these connections in order that the rotation of the tub and oscillation of the agitator be carried out in proper sequence. A complete cycle of operation of such a machine may comprise first the filling f the tub with washing liquid, the agitation of the clothes and liquid for a period long enough to thoroughly cleanse the clothes, spinning of the tub to centrifugal expel the washing liquid, introduction of further liquid and agitation to elfect a rinsing of the clothes and finally the extraction of this liquid by further spinning the tub. Obviously this cycle of operations could be controlled manually bnt the greatest advantages of this type of machine are achieved by automatically controlling the sequence and duration of such operations, under control of a timing mechanism, as is well known in the art.

It is the primary object of this invention to improve and simplify the drive mechanism and the means by which the motor is sequentially connected to the spin tub and agitator, making this operation more dependable, increasing the life of the working parts and, of particular importance in this highly competitive field, reducing the cost of manufacturing the machine. Heretofore in many of these machines separate clutches have been used between the motor and spin tub and between the transmission and agitator, with these clutches operated by separate solenoids under control of the timer. To insure positive clutching and declutching it has been necessary to use quite large solenoids which, of course, themselves represent a considerable item of expense. In accordance with a further object of the present invention power for operating the clutches is derived from the transmission for operation, through suitable cams, of means for shifting the clutches and by proper arrangement the power required to select the clutch to which the power taken off the transmission is directed may be controlled by a single, much smaller than usual and much less expensive solenoid. A saving is thus made without in any way sacrificing the positive operation of the clutches.

In the structure according to the foregoing objects of our invention the arrangement is such that the motor is connected either to the agitator or the spin tub and whenever the motor is in operation the agitator or tub will operate. It may be desirable to provide for a neutral condition, or one in which the motor continues in operation but is connected neither to the agitator nor the spin tub, and our invention has as a further object the provision of clutches separately controlled by separate solenoids but embodying power actuation of the clutches so that the relatively small and inexpensive solenoids may be utilized. A further and related object is to provide a power operated clutch mechanism adaptable to operation of even more than two clutches if this is desirable in any given situation. 7

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a clothes washing machine embodying our invention, portions being broken away and shown in section to disclose interior elements of the machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken at the line 22 in Fig. 1, showing the drive and support assembly for the spin tub and agitator of the machine.

Fig. 3 is another enlarged horizontal section taken at a lower level in the machine, substantially along the line 33'in Fig. 1. V

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary and still further enlarged horizontal sectional view, at about the same plane as Fig. 3, showing the control and operating mechanism for power operating the clutches, according to our invention, and adjacent elements of the machine. Here the parts are shown in position for closing the clutch to the agitator.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the assembly of Fig. 4, a portion being shown broken away and in section.

Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar to Figs. 4 and 5, respectively, but with the parts in position for closing the clutch to operate the spin tub.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the timer cams and control circuit for the machine.

Fig. 9 is a so-called exploded plan view of the drive, selector and actuator cams of our invention.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view, similar to the showing of Fig. 4 but on a smaller scale, and showing a modification in which is embodied an arrangement of cams providing a neutral condition so that the motor may run without operating either the agitator or spin tub.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side elevation and section of the structure of Fig. 10, taken substantially along the line 11-11 in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side elevation of still another modification.

Referring now with more particularity and by reference characters to Figs. 1-7 of the drawing, A designatesagitator 14 in said tub mounted for oscillation also about a generally upright axis, and a lower drive, clutch and support assembly 15 which will be described in detail herein. As shown in the Castner patent referred to supra, the inner works assembly 12 is supported at its lower end at the bottom of the stationary outer casing and frame 1.0 so that theassembly may gyrate in the casing when the tub 13 is spun to centrifugally expel the wash, or rinse liquid, such gyration, of course, being caused by uneven distribution of the wet clothes about the spin axis and being restricted by suitable snubbing means, not here shown since it constitutes no part of the present invention. The splash tub 11 has a bottom 16 with an upwardly extending center neck opening 17 up through which there extends a hollow upper extension 18 of a spider casting 19 formed with spaced, depending support legs, one of which appears at 20. A suitable flexible waterproof collar 21 connects the upper edge of the neck opening 17 and upper end of the spider extension 18 to prevent water from falling into the compartment below the splash tub 11 in which the assembly 15 is disposed. Extending through said extension 18 is a hallow spindle 22 to the upper end of which thespin tub 13 is secured, and extending through the spindle is a shaft 23 to the upper end of which the agitator 14 is secured. The spindle 22 and shaft 23 are journaled for independent motion about their common axes and in operation the spindle is rotated to spin the tub 13 while the shaft is oscillated to correspondingly oscillate the agitator 14.

In the present machine the spindle 22 and shaft 23 are both operated by a common electric motor 24 and the same is suspended from a motor mounting plate 25 adjustably secured to the casing of an agitator drive transmission 26. Said transmission converts rotary to oscillating motion and as far as its internal mechanism (not shown) is concerned may be of the type shown in the Patch Patent No. 1,964,440. Suffice it to say herein that the transmission has an upwardly projecting power input shaft 27 (Figs. 2 and 3) to which is affixed a pulley 28 driven by a belt 29 off a double pulley 30 on the correspondingly extending shaft 31 of a pump 32 suspended from a mounting plate 33 secured to the transmission, as also best seen in Figs. 2 and 3. This pump is for the purpose of extracting liquid from the splash tub 11, as usual. Another belt 34 from the double pulley 30 is provided and is driven from a pulley 35 (Fig. 1) secured to the upwardly extending shaft 36 (Fig. 3) of the motor 24 so that so long as the motor is in operation both the pump 32 and the transmission will also be operated. The transmission output is taken from an upwardly extending shaft 37 (Figs. and 7) which is located coaxially with respect to the aforesaid shaft 23 and which is oscillated by the transmission about an upright axis. Actually the shaft 37 as here shown is the lower part of an agitator clutch, or jaw clutch designated generally at 38, the upper part 39 of which is splined upon the lower end of the shaft 23 and when said upper part 39 is moved upwardly and downwardly on the splines this clutch is respectively opened and closed to control the flow of oscillating motion from the transmisison to the agitator 14.

The aforesaid support legs 20 of the spider casting 1B are secured by studs 49 (Figs. 2 and 3) to properly located upwardly extending bosses, one of which appears at 41 in Fig. 1, formed upon the top plate 42 of the casing of the transmission 26 (Fig. l). The top plate 42 is a suitably shaped and ribbed casting and is held by cap screws 43 to the lower part of the transmission casing, the shape of the plate being dictated by the fact that it also forms a support for the motor, pump and associated operating parts of the assembly.

The spin tub13 is rotated by the motor 24 through a rotary fluid coupling unit 44, such as that disclosed in Patent No. 2,513,845 previously referred to, which is mounted directly upon the motor shaft 36 and is rotatable therewith when clutched thereto. This coupling or fluid drive is characterized, as pointed out in the patent, in that it has a high initial slippage rate when set in motion from an idle condition, thus to gradually accelerate the spin tub and alleviate many of the evils which arise from gyration of the tub as it is rotated with an unbalanced load. As set forth in detail in the Willis R.

unit. When the unit is raised a short distance the clutch- 45 is opened and when the unit is lowered then the clutch is closed or engaged so that the motor drives the impeller. The driven part of the coupling unit has a belt pulley 46 and a belt 47 is trained around this pulley and about a pulley 48 secured to the lower end of the spindle 2-2 so thatwhen the clutch 45 is engaged the spin tub 13 will be rotated by the motor, through the fluid coupling unit 44. For adjusting the unit 44 to open and close the clutch 45 a shipper lever 43 is provided as set forth in the Foster et al. patent referred to above, said lever being pivoted at one end at 50 to a bracket 51 secured to the motor mounting plate 25 and of course the lever is provided with shipper elements 5'2 (Fig. 3) having running engagement with the upper, shiftable part of the clutch. The free end of this lever 49 extends in a generally tangential relation to a circle centered on the axis of the shaft 23 and is normally drawn in a downward direction, to close the clutch 45, by a rctractile coil spring 53 suitably connected between the lever and the motor mounting plate 25 below. This free end of lever 4-9 also overlies the free end of a shipper lever 54 for the agitator clutch 38, which lever 54 is fulcrumed intermediate its ends at 55 upon a flat 56 formed on the upper end of a shaft or stud 57 which, as best seen in Figs. 5 and 7, is secured by a screw 58 to the top plate 42 of the transmission 26.

'This stud 57, which also serves as a shaft for the oscillatable support of certain elements of the present invcntion, as will be described, is extended upward with its axis in substantially parallel relation to the common axis of the shafts 2337 and is spaced therefrom in the direction of the free end of the lever 49. As clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 6 the lever 54 is made up from two straps or bars welded or otherwise secured together and spread apart to form a fork 59 at one end (Figs. 4 and 6) cmbracing the upper shiftable part 39 of the agitator clutch 38, with the ends of such fork provided with shipper elements 6% having running engagement with this clutch part so that upward and downward movement of this end of the lever will correspondingly shift the clutch part and open and close the clutch. it will be noted that downward movement of the free ends of the respective shipper lovers 49 and 54 where the one overlies the other will open the clutch 38while closing the clutch 45, stopping the agitator while setting the spin tub in motion (if the motor 24 is running) whereas opposite upward movement of these ends of the levers will close the clutch 38 and open the clutch d5, stopping the tub and setting the agitator in motion.

As stated hereinbefore it has been the custom in machines of this type to operate the respective clutch shipper levers each 'by its own solenoid, the energization of such solenoids being properly timed by the usual timer and its operating motor designated in Fig. 1 generally at B. Considerable power is required to move the shipper levers and insure the proper and positive functioning of the clutches and thus not only has it been necessary to use the two clutch controlling solenoids but they have of necessity been quite large and expensive. According to our invention we utilize power taken from the transmission 26, and therefore from the motor 23 itself, to do the actual work of moving the shipper levers and select the clutch to be opened or closed at any given time by means of but one, small and in expensive solenoid controling a power clutching mechanism which will now be described in detail.

A drive cam 61 is secured upon the oscillating output shaft 37 of the transmission 26, which in this case as aforesaid is the lower part of the agitator clutch 38, the cam being secured in place by cap screws (one of which appears at 62 in Fig. 4) driven downward into the clutch part. This drive cam is generally circular in shape as viewed from above but has separate, upper and lower oppositely disposed cam surfaces 63 and 64 cut into its peripheral edges, such cam surfaces including rounded cam lobes 65 and 66 respectively very much the shape of spur gear teeth but rounded on their outer extremities as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The drive cam, of course, is power oscillated about its axis by the transmission, so operating whenever the motor 24 is in operation.

A selector cam 67 is both rotatably and upwardly and downwardly axially shiftably mounted upon the stud 57 and this cam has spaced upper and lower cam surfaces 68 and 69 which are angularly spaced apart about the axis of the stud. These cam surfaces have rounded outwardly projecting cam lobes 7071 respectively which are located adjacent to oppositely disposed radial projections 7273. In addition the lower cam surface 69 is provided opposite the cam lobes 70-71 with a radially projecting tail 74 spaced angularly about the axis of the selector cam from the edge 75 of the lower projection 73. It will be noted that the distance, upwardly and downwardly, between the .upper and lower cam surfaces of the selector cam 67 is substantially greater than that between the corresponding cam surfaces 6364 of the drive cam 61, for a purpose presently to appear, and the intervening hub-like portion of the selector cam is provided in its peripheral surface, just about diametrically opposite the projection 72, with an arcuate groove 76 in which there plays the horizontally (and inwardly with respect to the axis of the selector cam) turned end 77 of a bell crank lever 78. Said lever 78 has a generally horizontally extending arm 79 and a downwardly extending arm 80 and adjacent the junction of the two the lever is fulcrumed at 81 upon a suitable bracket 82 secured to the top plate 42 of the transmission 26. The lever arm 80 may be swung upwardly and downwardly about the fulcrum 81 by the engagement of the end 77 with groove 76 correspondingly position the selector cam 67, the length of the groove arcuately being such that the selector cam may also oscillate through a limited range about the axis of stud 57. The bell crank lever 73 is operated by the single solenoid hereinbefore referred to, designated at $3, and the same is suspended from a mounting plate 84 secured at 85 to the underside of an extension of the top plate 42 of the transmission 26. The solenoid has a reciprocating armature plunger 86 which is connected to the depending arm 80 of the bell crank lever by means of a coil spring 87 connected at 83 to said plunger and hooked at 89 in an opening near the lower end of said arm 80. Also hooked at 90 in an opening in the lower end of the arm 80 of the bell crank lever 78 is a retractile coil return spring 91, the other end of which is attached at 92 at a point below on the assembly 15, in order to normally swing the arm 80 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. and 7, and thus normally lift the selector cam 67 to its uppermost position, as will be readily understood.

Finally there is provided an actuating cam 93 which is positioned by the selector cam 67 and which as here shown is arranged beneath cam 67 and coaxially therewith upon the stud 57. This actuator cam 93 is generally flat and disk-like in shape and is centrally apertured so that it may be rotatably mounted on the stud 57. The actuator cam has a flange severed and angularly punched upwardly forming a cam surface 94 disposed at an angle to the vertical and curving progressively further away from the axis of die stud 57 from the extremity 95 to the high point 96, at which point the cam surface curves reversely or back toward the stud axis over its remaining area or length 97. The aforesaid tail 74 on asapsa the selector cam 67 rests in contact with one end 98 of the punched up cam surface 94 while the actuator cam 93 has an ear 99 turned upwardly and engaged by the aforesaid edge 75 of the lower cam projection 73. Thus any angular, oscillatory movement of the selector cam 67 will result in a corresponding movement of the actuator cam 93 and the interengaging parts 7599 and 74-98 of the cams will remain in engagement throughout the upward and downward movements of the selector cam so that the two cams will at all times move in unison about their common axis of oscillation. Outwardly of the cams 67-93, with respect to the axis of the shaft 23 and drive cam 61, the jaw clutch shipper lever 54 is provided with what amounts to an eye or bore 100, by appropriately forming the separate straps of which this lever is made, and slidably mounted in this eye is a cam follower 101 having a knob-shaped end 102 riding the aforesaid cam surface 94. The angle of this cam follower 101 is such that it extends at substantially right angles to the cam surface 94, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 7, and the knob end 102 of the follower is pressed against the cam surface by an expansion coil spring 103 as also clearly shown. A nut 104 is threaded on the outer, upper end of the follower, beyond the eye 100, to hold the parts in assembly. The force exerted by the cam follower spring 103 will serve to hold the actuator cam 93 against upward displacement on the stud 57, even when the selector cam 67 is moved to its upper position.

The aforesaid spring 53 normally pulls the free end of the shipper lever 49 downward and another retractile coil spring 54a is connected between the corresponding end of the other shipper lever 54 and a suitable point on the transmission below, to serve the same purpose and normally pull this end of lever 54 in a downward direction.

When the solenoid 83 is de-energized the various cams and levers stand in the positions in which they are shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the agitator clutch 38 being open and the fluid coupling unit 44 lowered on the motor shaft 36 so that the clutch 45 is closed. It will be noted that in this condition the shipper lever 49 clears lever 54 so that the latter will not act as a stop, preventing the fluid drive clutch 45 from closing as might otherwise be the case. If the motor 24 is now set in operation it will spin the tub 13 through the fluid coupling unit as will be understood. When it is desired to stop the spin tub 13 and start the agitator 14 it is only necessary to energize the solenoid 83 so that its armature plunger 86 moves toward the left (as viewed in Figs. 5 and 7) to the position shown in Fig. 5, whereupon it will pull the bell crank lever 78 in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 5 and thereby lower the selector cam 67. It will be noted in Fig. 6 that the projection 72 on the upper cam surface 68 of the selector cam overlies the adjacent edge of the drive cam 61 and when the selector cam is so lowered the upper cam surface 63 of the drive cam will first engage this projection 72 and then the lobes and of the respective upper cam surfaces of the drive and selector cams will cooperate much as do the teeth of a pair of spur gears. Bearing in mind that the drive cam 61 is, of course, running at this time then this engagement of the cam lobes 6'5 and 70 will cause the drive cam to move the selector cam 67 in a clockwise direction as 1 viewed from above from the position seen in Fig. 6 to that in Fig. 4. On completion of this motion of the selector cam 67 it will have movedits lower projection 73 around to a point at which it projects beneath the edge of the drive cam but since the selector cam is now lowered this projection is well below the plane of the lower cam surface 64 of the drive cam, as seen in Fig. -5, and the selector cam will remain at rest.

This limited clockwise travel of the selector cam 67 about its axis as it is lowered causes a correspondingtravel-of the actuator cam 93, since these cams operatein unison as aforesaid, with the result that the cam surface 94 on said actuator cam forces the follower 101 outward and upward with respect to the axis of the stud 57. This force is exerted in a corresponding direction with respect to the fulcrum 55 and moves the shipper lever 54 in a clockwise direction about said fulcrum against the tension of spring 54:: from the position of Fig. 7 to that of Fig. 5 and the forked end 59 of the lever closes the agitator clutch 38 while the other end of the lever now engages and lifts the other shipper lever 49 to raise the fluid coupling unit 44 and disengage its drive clutch 45. If by chance the jaws of the agitator clutch 38 are not properly aligned for meshing when the actuator cam 93 urges the follower 1491 outward, the spring 103 thereon will simply be compressed, preventing damage to the parts, but as soon as the clutch is properly aligned then it will closev This follower spring 103 is under some compression at all times so that as the high point 96 of the cam surface 94 moves past the follower and the knob 102 thereof reaches the reversely or inwardly curved area 97 of the cam surface the spring will exert a pressure tending to home or to urge the selector and actuator cams fully around slightly beyond their position of Fig. 4, causing the cam lobe 70 to clear the drive cam 61. The use of the spring 87 on the connection between the solenoid and bell crank lever 78 also acts as a safeguard against any possible misalignment of the parts and provides a spring tension to hold the selector cam 67 in position while the solenoid is energized.

On completion of the agitation cycle and when it is again desired to spin the tub 13 the solenoid 83 is simply de-energized and the return spring 1 moves the bell crank lever 78 about its fulcrum 8'2. in a counterclockwise direction from the position of Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 7. This action lifts the selector cam 67, the projection 73 on its lower cam surface 69 is engaged by the lower cam surface 64 of the drive cam 61 and the lobes 66 and 71 coact to turn the selector cam 67 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from above, from the position of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 6 at which point the spring loaded follower 191 will home the selector cam in the opposite direction and cause it to clear the drive cam. The resultant movement of the actuator cam 93 causes the cam surface 94 to lower the free end of the shipper lever 54 under influence of spring 54c: so that lever 54 will clear the corresponding end or" the other shipper lever 49. This action causes the spring 53 to lower the fluid coupling unit 44 and closes clutch 45 while, of course, the shipper lever 54 again opens the agitator clutch 38. It will be noted that this counterclockwise movement of the selector cam 67 brings the projection 72 of the upper cam surface 68 to a position overlying the edge of the drive cam, as viewed from above, ready for the next operation, but this upper cam surface of the selector cam is, of course, held upward clear of the drive cam (Fig. 7) until the solenoid 83 is again energized.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that not only is a single solenoid used for controlling both clutches in proper sequence but that this solenoid has only to raise and lower the selector cam 67 on its supporting stud 57 and so little power is required for this operation that a small and inexpensive solenoid will serve the purpose. On the other hand, the clutches themselves are powerfully and positively operated by power taken from the agitator transmission 26 at a point where an abundance of power is available. Thus we have fulfilled the objectives of our invention as stated hereinbefore.

In Fig. 8 there is schematically shown the electrical circuit and control cams of the timer B, by which a machine of this kind is controlled in its sequence of operations. Only the cams 105 and 166 which respectively control the motor 24 and clutch controlling solenoid 83 will here be described, the remaining cams and circuits controlled thereby being of no importance to an understanding of our present invention. The cams all are, of course, circular and are rotated about an axis by a timer motor but as ere shown the cams are laid out linearly with the direction of rotation indicated by an arrow and legend. Cam 1'35 operates a movable switch arm 107 into and out of engagement with a fixed contact 108, the former being connected to a line or supply conductor 199 and the latter connected to one terminal of the motor 24. The other terminal of said motor is connected to a second supply conductor 11.0 and it is obvious, therefore, that contact between the arm 1G7 and contact 68 will close a circuit to energize and operate the motor. Likewise the cam 1626 operates a movable switch arm lli into and out of engagement with a fixed contact 112, the former being connected to the aforesaid supply conductor 109 and the latter to one terminal of the solenoid 63, with the remaining terminal of the solenoid connected to the other supply conductor 110. Now with the cams set in rotation it will he noted that up to the sixty-five degree point indicated neither the motor 24 nor the solenoid will be energized, this interval being utilized to supply the machine with water, etc. But at the completion of this interval the raised portions 113 and 114 of the cams 1li5106 will up wardly operate the switch arms 1 37-111 to close energizing circuits to both the motor 24 and the solenoid 83. As hereinbefore described the energization of this solenoid 83 closes the agitator clutch 38 and opens the clutch 45 and the agitator l t will then be set in motion. Agitation continues until the cam rotation has proceeded to the one hundred eighty-five degree point at which the raised portion 114 terminates, thus opening the circuit to the solenoid and as has been described reversing the condition of the clutches 38 and 45 so that the agitator stops and the tub 13 is set in rotation. The motor circuit remains closed, as it must to spin the tub, until the two hundred twenty degree point noted at which raised portion 113 terminates and there follows an interval for the introduction of rinse water into the tub. At the two hundred sixty-five degree point the cams -1!6 have additional raised portions HEP-116, starting the motor 24 and energizing the solenoid as will be readily understood so that the agitator is again oscillated. This continues only to the two hundred ninety-five degree point at which raised portion 116 terminates, de-energizing the solenoid to reverse the clutches and spin the tub until the motor is finally shut off at completion of the full cycle of operation. The particular timer cam layout as here shown is for example only, to illustrate the relationship between the operations of the motor and single solenoid in a representative washing, spinning and rinsing sequence.

The cam and drive mechanism as thus far described requires that the motor 24 be connected either to the spin tub 13 or the agitator 14 at all times, so that whenever the motor is running either the tub or the agitator is driven. This may be undesirable under certain circumstances and it may be preferred to provide for an idle or dwell condition in which the motor, while running, is connected neither to the tub or agitator. Referring now to Figs. l0-ll a cam arrangement is shown by which we are enabled to obtain such an idle condition while retaining the advantages of power actuation of the respective clutches 38 and 45. The latter clutch, of course, does not appear in these views.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 10-11 the clutches. the transmission 26 and shaft 37 are precisely as heretofore described, as is also the arrangement of the drive cam 61 on shaft 37 and the construction, mounting and operation of the selector and actuator cams 67 and 93, bell crank lever 78, clutch shipper lever 49, solenoid 8-3, springs 53, 87 and 91. Wherever the parts are identical to those previously described corresponding reference numerals are employed. The cam surfaces 63 and 64 are again used upon the drive cam 61 and the operation of the parts to the left (as viewed in Figs. -11) of the axis of the drive cam operate exactly as was described, with the exception that the actuator cam 93 now operates only the clutch shipper lever 43 for controlling the spin tub operation. For this purpose an actuating lever 120 is pivoted at one end at 121 to the stud or shaft 57 and at its opposite end this lever 120 extends beneath the shipper lever. A spring 126:: servies the same purpose as to levers 4h and 120 as the spring 54a previously described. In lieu of the spring biased follower 101, etc., heretofore described this actuating lever 120 is simply formed with a smoothly rounded finger 122 to ride the cam surface 94 of the actuator cam 93.

For operating the clutch 38 controlling power flow to the agitator 14 the drive cam 61 now operates another selector cam-actuator cam combination, located at the opposite side of the drive cam and since these added cams correspond in design, location and interaction to those used for operating the shipper lever 49 they are designated by corresponding reference characters and appended ordinals, as 67a, 93a, etc. The selector cam 67a is located on another stud or shaft 57a and is moved upwardly and downwardly thereon by a bell crank lever 78a, in exactly the same manner as selector cam 67 is positioned, there being provided a second small solenoid 83a connected by a spring 87a to the downwardly extending end 80a of the lever 780, which lever is fulcrumed at 81a on an upstanding bracket 82:: on the transmission 26. A return spring 91a is attached to the lower end of the bell crank lever 78a to normally lift the selector cam 67a to its upermost position and energization of the solenoid 83a will, of course, lower the selector cam.

For operating the two selector cams 67-67a the drive cam 61 in this case is provided on its cam surfaces 63 and 64 with additional cam lobes 65a56a, corresponding to the previously described lobes 65 and 66 and spaced therefrom toward the opposite ends of the said cam surfaces as clearly shown in Fig. 10. Thus as the selector cams 6'767a are selectively raised and lowered by the solenoids 3383a the drive cam lobes 6566 and 65a66a will respectively cooperate with the selector cam lobes 70-71 on cam 67 and with corresponding lobes Wat-71a on cam 67a to oscillate the selector cams to and between their respective positions exactly as heretofore described. The angle of oscillation, or amplitude thereof, of the drive cam 61 is sufficient to so operate both selector cams and it is, of course, possible to so arrange the cam surfaces that more than the two selector cams may be driven off the one drive cam if so desired.

The movement of the selector cams 67-67a is transmitted to the respective actuator cams 9393a in the same manner as heretofore described and this operation is under the selective control of the two solenoids 83-830. It is not believed to be necessary, however, to here go into details of the timer circuits controlling the solenoids in view of the previous description of the timer since it will be obvious how another timer cam may be added for controlling the additional solenoid 83a in any desired manner.

The second, added actuator cam 93a operates a shipper lever 123 for the agitator clutch 38 and this lever is fulcrumed at 124 upon the upper end of the stud 57a, extending in a radial direction with reference to the axis of the clutch. In this case the shipper lever 123 is also provided with a projecting finger 125 (Fig. 11) rounded at its end to ride the cam surface 94a on the actuator cam, instead of the spring biased follower heretofore described, and at its inner end nearest the clutch, the lever is foreshortened but is provided with a fiat, forked spring 126, for operating the clutch 38. Said spring 126 is provided a t its spaced apart ends 127 with depending ears 123 carrying the aforesaid shipper elements, one of which appears at 66 in Fig. 11, for moving the clutch. At its center the forked spring has a projection 129 overlyingv the upper edge of the shipper lever 123 and provided with depending ears 130 which are riveted to the lever, as best seen in Fig. 11. This clutch operating spring 126 obviously may flex in an upward direction as necessary shouldthe shipper lever 123 move downward at its inner end with the clutch jaws out of alignment, and even when the clutch 38 is closed as seen in Fig. 11 there is some upward flexion so that the follower finger will home the actuator cam 93a just as done by the spring biased follower heretofore described. It is to be noted also that the shipper lever 123 has a lug-like extension 131 underlying the center of the spring 126 and projecting as far as possible toward the clutch 38 itself, in order to support the spring as it lifts the clutch to its open position. This form of shipper lever, i. e., without the spring follower for the actuator cam but with a spring such as 136, for operating the clutch 33, may to advantage be substituted for the shipper lever 54 and its follower 1151 as described earlier herein.

Since it is now possible in the cam arrangement of Figs. 10 and 11 to hold either or both of the clutches 33-45 open it, of course, follows that the motor 24 may run without operating the spin tub or agitator and it thus becomes possible to do away with the necessity for switching the motor on and off by the timer. The resulting added flexibility of this system may in some situations justify the slight added complication althoughit will be apparent that the cam arrangement with the single solenoid as shown in Figs. l7 is somewhat less inexpensive.

It will also be apparent that drive cams may be stacked two or more above each other upon a common shaft as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 12, wherein two drive cams are designated at 61b61c and the common oscillating shaft at 37b. Then by the use of at least one axially shiftable selector cam, shown at 67b67c, for each drive cam two or more clutches may be selectively power actuated, the cam configuration and remainder of the shipper lever construction (not shown) being any suitable to the occasion. Where the shaft length permits and the number of clutches to be controlled requires, this stacking of the drive cams may be carried out as far as necessary.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described our invention, what we claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a clothes washing machine having a rotatably mounted clothes container and an oscillatable agitator therein, said machine also including a motor and an agitator transmission of the type converting rotary to oscillating motion and separate clutches for selectively connecting the motor to spin the container and to oscillate the agitator, mechanism for actuating the clutches to close either as the other is opened, comprising a shaft oscillatable about its axis by said transmission, a drive cam secured to and oscillatable with the said shaft, the drive cam having separate cam surfaces, an oscillatably and shiftably supported selector cam also having separate cam surfaces, means for shifting the selector cam to bring either of its cam surfaces selectively into operative engagement with the cam surfaces on the drive cam whereupon the selector cam will be power driven selectively in opposite directions, an oscillatably supported actuator cam and cooperating means on the selector and actuator cams for driving the latter by the former, the actuator cam having a cam surface, separate levers for operating the clutches, and means operated by the cam surface on the actuator cam for moving the levers and operating the clutches for sequentially spinning the container and oscillating the agitator.

2. In a clothes washing machine having a rotatably mounted clothes container and an oscillatable agitator therein, said machine also including a motor and an agitator transmission of the type converting rotary to oscillating motion and separate clutches for selectively connecting the motor to spin the container and to oscillate the agitator, mechanism operated from the motor for actuating the clutches to close either as the other is opened, comprising a shaft oscillatable about its axis by said transmission, means supporting the shaft for such oscillation, a drive cam secured to and oscillatable with the said shaft, the drive cam having separate cam surfaces, a stud and means supporting the same near the said shaft, a selector cam oscillatably and axially shiftably mounted on the stud and also having separate cam surfaces, means for shifting the selector cam to bring either of its cam surfaces selectively and momentarily into operative engagement with the cam surfaces on the drive cam whereupon the selector cam will be power driven selectively in opposite directions, an actuator cam oscillatably supported on the stud, cooperating means on the selector and actuator cams for driving the latter by the former, the actuator cam having a cam surface, and mechanism operative by the cam surface on the actuator cam for sequentially operating the said clutches.

3. In a clothes washing machine having a rotatably mounted clothes container and an oscillatable agitator therein, said machine also including a motor and an agitator transmission of the type converting rotary to oscillating motion and separate clutches for selectively connecting the motor to spin the container and to oscillate the agitator, mechanism for acuating the clutches to close either as the other is opened, comprising a journaled shaft and means driven by the said transmission oscillating the shaft about its axis, a drive cam oscillated by the said oscillating shaft, a support, a selector cam journaled on the support and also axially shiftable thereon, both the drive and selector cams having a pair of cam surfaces engageable selectively upon shifting the selector cam and operative when so engaged to move that cam about its support, means for shifting the selector cam, and mechanism operative by movement of the selector cam to open and close the clutches.

4. In a clothes washing machine having a rotatably mounted clothes container and an oscillatable agitator therein, said machine also including a motor and an agitator transmission of the type converting rotary to oscillating motion and separate clutches for selectively connecting the motor to spin the container and to oscillate the agitator, mechanism for actuating the clutches to close either as the other is opened, comprising a journaled shaft and means driven by the motor and operating the shaft about its axis, a drive cam driven by the said shaft, a support adjacent said shaft, a selector cam journaled on the support and also shiftable thereon, both the drive and selector cams having separate cam surfaces engageable selectively upon shifting the selector cam and operative when so engaged to move that cam about its support, a single solenoid operatively connected to shift the selector cam, and mechanism operative by movement of the selector cam to open and close the clutches.

. 5. In a clothes washing machine having a rotatably mounted clothes container and an oscillatable agitator therein, said machine also including a motor and an agitator transmission of the type converting rotary to oscillating motion and separate clutches for selectively conecting the motor to spin the container and to oscillate the agitator, mechanism for power actuating the clutches to close either as the other is opened, comprising an upwardly extending iournaled shaft and means driven by the said transmission oscillating the shaft about its axis,

a drive cam oscillated by the said oscillating shaft, an upwardly extending stud adjacent the shaft, a selector cam journaled'on the stud and also axially shiftable upwardly and downwardly thereon, both the drive and selector cams having upper and lower cam surfaces engageable selectively upon shifting the selector cam and operative when so engaged to turn that cam about its support, solenoid operated means for shifting the selector cam, an actuator cam rotatably mounted on the stud beneath the selector cam, cooperating means on the selector and actuator cams causing them to turn in unison about the stud, and mechanism operative by movement of the actuator cam to open and close the clutches.

6. In a clothes washing machine having a rotatably mounted clothes container and an oscillatable agitator therein, said machine also including a motor and an agitator transmission of the type converting rotary to oscillating motion and separate clutches for selectively connecting the motor to spin the container and to oscillate the agitator, mechanism for power actuating the clutches to close either as the other 'is opened, comprising in combination, an upwardly extending shaft journaled in the transmission and oscillated about its axis by said transmission, a drive cam secured to and oscillating with the shaft, a stud secured to and extending upwardly from the transmission with its axis substantially parallel with that of the shaft, a selector cam rotatably mounted on the stud and also axially shiftable upwardly and downwardly thereon, both the drive and selector cams having upper and lower cam surfaces selectively engageable upon shifting movement of the selector cam and operative when so engaged to move the selector cam about the axis of the stud, an actuator cam also journaled on the stud beneath the selector cam, cooperating means upon the selector and actuator cams for moving the two in unison about the axis of the stud, means for shifting the selector cam, and means operative by the actuator cam for opening and closing the said clutches.

7. For use in a clothes washing machine having a rotatable spin tub and an oscillating agitator therein, a drive motor, a transmission connected to the motor and converting rotary motion to oscillating motion, the said transmission having an upwardly extending motor driven shaft oscillating about its axis, a first clutch for selectively connecting the said shaft to the agitator, and means including a second clutch for connecting the motor to spin the tub; a control mechanism for actuating the two clutches by said oscillating shaft to close either clutch as the other is opened and comprising in combination, a drive cam secured to and oscillating with said oscillating shaft, an upright stud and means supporting the same with its axis substantially parallel to that of the oscillating shaft, a selector cam rotatably mounted on said stud and also shiftable axially upwardly and downwardly thereon, both the drive and actuator cams having upper and lower cam surfaces selectively engageable as the selector cam is shifted upward and downward and operative when so engaged to turn the selector cam in opposite directions about the axis of said stud, means for shifting the selector earn, an actuator cam also mounted for rotation on the stud and having a cam surface, cooperating means on the selector and actuator cams causing them to turn in unison about the axis of the stud, separate shipper levers connected to the respective clutches, spring means biasing the levers in one direction to open one clutch and close the other, and a spring loaded cam follower on one of the levers engaging the actuator cam surface and operated thereby when the cam moves in one direction to move the shipping levers in another direction to reverse the condition of the clutches.

8. For use with a power driven shaft movable about its axis and at least one selectively engagable and disengageable clutch, mechanism for utilizing power taken from the power driven shaft to engage and disengage said clutch, comprising at least one drive cam secured to the power driven shaft to move therewith, at least one selector cam and means supporting the same for axial shifting movements and also for movements about its axis between two positions, the drive and selector cams having cooperating cam surfaces engageable upon said shifting movement of said selector cam to move the se- 13 lector cam from either of its said positions to the other, means for shifting the selector cam, at least one actuator element also supported for movements from one position to another, cooperating means on the selector cam and actuator element for operating the latter in unison with the former, and mechanism operative by said actuator element responsive to movement of the selector cam for engaging and disengaging the clutch.

9. A clutch control mechanism comprising a pair of clutches to be engaged and disengaged, a power driven shaft mounted for motion about its axis, a drive cam secured to and moving with the said shaft, the said drive cam having separate cam surfaces, a selector cam, means supporting the selector cam for rotation about an axis substantially parallel with the axis of the said shaft and also for shifting movement to and between two positions along said axis of rotation, the selector cam having spaced apart cam surfaces selectively engageable with the separate cam surfaces of the drive cam upon said shifting movement of the selector cam and operative when so engaged to cause said drive cam to move the selector cam about its axis of rotation, an actuator cam, means rotatably supporting the actuator cam adjacent said selector cam, cooperating means upon the selector and actuator cams to cause the two to move in unison, means for shifting the selector cam, and mechanism operated by the actuator cam for sequentially engaging and disengaging the clutches.

10. For use with a power driven shaft oscillating about its axis and at least one selectively engageable and disengageable clutch, mechanism for utilizing power taken from the power driven oscillating shaft to engage and disengage said clutch, comprising a drive cam secured to the power driven shaft to oscillate therewith and this cam having separate cam surfaces, an oscillatably and shiftably supported selector cam oscillatable between two positions and also having separate cam surfaces, means for shifting the selector cam to bring either one of its separate cam surfaces into momentary operative relation with the cam surfaces on the drive cam whereupon the said selector cam will be moved from either of its positions to the other, an actuator cam also supported for oscillation from one position to another, cooperating means on the selector and actuator cams for operating the latter in unison with the former, the actuator cam having a cam surface, a shipper lever swingably supported adjacent said actuator cam and having a cam follower engaging the actuator cam surface, and a spring attached to the shipper lever and'operating the clutch and normally and yieldably biasing the clutch toward its engaged position.

11. Clutch control mechanism for a pair of clutches to be sequentially engaged and disengaged, comprising a power driven shaft mounted for oscillation about its axis, a drive cam driven by the said shaft, the said drive cam having separate cam surfaces, a second shaft and means supporting the same with its axis substantially parallel with the axis of said drive cam, a selector cam axially shiftable and also rotatable upon the second shaft and also having separate cam surfaces, means for axially shifting the selector cam to bring its separate cam surfaces sequentially into operative engagement with the separate cam surfaces of the drive cam to thereby move the selector cam about said second shaft, and mechanism operated by said movement of the selector cam for sequentially engaging and disengaging said clutches.

12. For use with a power driven shaft oscillating about its axis and at least one selectively engagable and disengageable clutch, mechanism for utilizing power taken from the power driven oscillating shaft to engage and disengage said clutch, comprising a drive cam secured to the power driven shaft to oscillate therewith and this cam having separate cam surfaces, an oscillatably and shiftably supported selector cam movable about an axis between two positions and also having separate cam surfaces, means for shifting the selector cam to bring one or the other of its separate cam surfaces into momentary operative'rela'tion with the cam surfaces on the drive cam whereupon the said selector cam will be moved from either of its positions to the other, an actuator cam also supported for oscillation about an axis from one position to another, cooperating means on the selector and actuator cams for operating the latter in unison with the former, the actuator cam having an arcuate cam surface, and mechanism operative by said cam surface on the actuator cam responsive to oscillation of the cam for engaging and disengaging the clutch, said mechanism including a lever having a follower bearing against the actuator cam surface, a spring forcing the follower against the actuator cam surface, and the said cam surface on the actuator cam having a portion gradually increasing in distance from the axis of the cam and a continuing portion which gradually decreases in distance from that axis whereby the spring force onthe cam follower as the follower engages the latter portion of the cam surface will bias the actuator cam toward one of its said positions.

13. Clutch control mechanism for a pair of clutches to be sequentially engaged and disengaged, comprising in combination a power driven shaft mounted for oscillation about its axis, a drive cam secured to and oscillating with the said shaft, the said drive cam having separate cam surfaces, a second shaft and means supporting the same with its axis substantially parallel with the axis of said power driven shaft, a selector cam shiftably and rotatably mounted upon the second shaft and also having separate cam surfaces, means for shifting the selector cam to bring its separate cam surfaces sequentially into momentary operative engagement with the separate cam surfaces of the drive cam to thereby move the selector cam in opposite directions about said second shaft, an actuator cam and means supporting the same for rotation adjacent the selector cam, cooperating means on the selector cam and actuator cam to cause the two to move in unison, the actuator cam having a cam surface, and mechanism for sequentially engaging and disengaging said clutches including a pair of clutch shipper levers movable in unison, a cam follower on one of the shipper levers engaging and operated by the cam surface on the actuator cam to move the levers in one direction, and separate return springs biasing the levers in an opposite direction.

14. For sequentially operating a pair of clutches from a power driven oscillating shaft, a drive cam secured to and oscillating with the shaft, a stud supported near the shaft, a selector cam rotatably mounted on the stud and also axially shiftable thereon, both the drive and selector cams having a pair of cam surfaces selectively engageable upon shifting movement of the selector cam and operative when so engaged to turn the selector cam in opposite directions about the axis of the stud, an actuator cam also journaled on the stud, cooperating means upon the selector and actuator cams for moving the two in unison about the axisof the stud, means for shifting the selector cam, the actuator cam having a cam surface and means operative by the actuator cam surface for opening and closing the said clutches.

15. For power operating a pair of clutches from a power driven oscillating shaft, a drive cam secured to and oscillating with the shaft, a stud and means supporting the same with its axis substantially parallel with that of the shaft, a selector cam rotatably mounted on the stud and also axially shiftable thereon, both the drive and selector cams having a pair of cam surfaces selectively and momentarily engageable upon shifting movement of the selector cam and operative when so engaged to turn the selector cam about the axis of the stud, an actuator cam also journaled on the stud, cooperating means upon the selector and actuator cams for turning the two in unison about the axis of the stud, means for shifting the selector cam, the actuator cam having a cam 15 surface, a pair of shipper levers operatively connected to the said clutches, a cam follower on one lever engaging the cam surface on the actuator cam, and coacting means on the shipper levers causing them to move in umson as the actuator cam turns.

16. A clutch control mechanism for a pair of clutches to be selectively engaged and disengaged, a power driven shaft mounted for oscillation about its axis, a drive cam secured to and oscillating with the said shaft, the said drive cam having separate cam surfaces, a pair of selector cams, means supporting each selector cam for rotation about an axis substantially parallel with the axis of the oscillating shaft and also for shifting movements to and between two positions along said axis of rotation, the elector cams each having spaced apart cam surfaces selectively momentarily engageable with the separate cam surfaces of the drive cam upon said shifting movement of the selector cams and operative when so engaged to cause said drive cam to move the selector cams in opposite directions about their axes of rotation, a pair L of actuator cams, and means rotatably supporting one actuator cam adjacent each selector cam, cooperating means upon the selector and actuator cams to cause each two to move in unison, separate means for selectively shifting the selector cams into and out of engagement by the drive cam, and mechanism operated by the actuator cams for selectively engaging and disengaging the clutches.

17. A clutch control mechanism for a pair of clutches to be selectively engaged and disengaged, a power driven shaft mounted for oscillation about its axis, a drive cam secured to and oscillating with the said shaft, the said drive cam having separate cam surfaces, a pair of selector cams spaced apart about the drive cam, means supporting each selector cam for rotation about an axis substantially parallel with the axis of the oscillating shaft and also for shifting movements to and between two positions along said axis of rotation, the selector cams each having spaced apart cam surfaces selectively momentarily engageable with the separate cam surfaces of the drive cam upon said shifting movement of the selector cams and operative when so engaged to cause said drive cam to move the selector cams in opposite directions about their axes of rotation, separate means for selectively shifting the selector cams, and separate mechanisms operated by the selector cam for engaging and disengaging the clutches.

18. A clutch control mechanism for at least two clutches to be engaged and disengaged, a power driven shaft mounted for oscillation about its axis, a plurality of drive cams secured to and oscillating with the said shaft, each drive cam having separate cam surfaces, at least one selector cam for each drive cam, means supporting the selector cams forrotation about axes substantially parallel with the axis of the oscillating shaft and also for shifting movements to and between two positions along said axis of rotation, each selector cam having spaced apart cam surfaces selectively momentarily engageable with the separate cam surfaces of one of the drive cams upon said shifting movement of the selector cams and operative when so engaged to cause said drive cams to move the selector cams in opposite directions about their axes of rotation, separate means for shifting the selector cams, and separate mechanisms operated by the selector cam for engaging and disengaging the clutches.

19. A clutch control mechanism for at least two clutches to be engaged and disengaged, a power driven shaft mounted for oscillation about its axis, a pair of drive cams secured in stacked relation to and oscillating with the said shaft, each drive cam having separate cam surfaces, a pair of selector cams, means supporting the selector cams for rotation about axes substantially parallel with the axis of the oscillating shaft and also for shifting movements to and between two positions along said axis of rotation, each selector cam having spaced apart cam surfaces selectively momentarily engageable with the separate cam surfaces of one of the drive cams upon said shifting movement of the selector cams and operative when so engaged to cause said drive cams to move the selector cams in opposite directions about their axes of rotation, separate means for shifting the two selector cams, and separate mechanisms operated by the selector cam for engaging and disengaging the clutches.

20. In a clothes washing machine having a rotatably mounted clothes container and an oscillatable agitator therein, said machine also including a motor and an agitator transmission of the type converting rotary to oscillating motion and separate clutches for selectively conmeeting the motor to spin the container and to oscillate the agitator, mechanism for actuating the clutches to close either as the other is opened, comprising a shaft oscillatable about its axis by said transmission, a drive cam secured to and oscillatable with the said shaft, the drive cam having separate cam surfaces, separate means for actuating the said clutches, and means operated by oscillatory movements of the drive cam for operating said clutch actuating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,548,940 Brotman Apr. 17, 1951 2,610,498 Geldhof Sept. 16, 1952 2,741,925 Geldhof Apr. 17, 1956 

